Menasha celebrates Day of the Dead

MENASHA - Nov. 1 and 2 mark the Mexican celebration, "Día de los muertos," or "Day of the Dead." Monday, Menasha High School got into the "spirit."

The Day of the Dead celebrates the lives of those who passed away. It is one of the most celebrated Mexican holidays, and Menasha High School students learned why.

"I feel like I've learned a ton about the different cultures and how they celebrate it," senior Lucas Reppert said.

Spanish teacher Becky Bauer said it's important to learn about those things as the community grows more diverse.

"I think the Valley is changing culturally and this kinds of opens up what we do in the classroom and really moves out and includes the community in what we're doing and what we're learning about another culture," she said.

Death is what Día de los muertos is all about. Event coordinator and Spanish teacher Gina Munig said the event shows students death is not a scary thing.

"It is in no way a morbid or sad event. It is more of a celebration of life," said Munig.

That celebration of life includes skeletons dressed up in everyday clothes, artwork and memorials for those who have passed. Munig said 95 percent of the work on display in the school's fieldhouse was done by students.

"It was a lot of work. We came in on our days off, which is cool, to work on it," student Jennifer Milheiser said.

"We spent a lot of time learning about it and then making crafts and then coming here and setting everything up," sophomore Nick Gloede said.

But for these students the days and hours of work put into this public event was well worth it.

"I think it's really important people get to see the different cultures, the different ways to honor the dead," said student Zuzu Alaback.